How to remove chocolate stains from carpet

Chocolate. Who doesn’t love it? It’s the ultimate treat for countless people all across the globe, kids and adults alike. Most of us eat at least small amounts of it every now and then. However, chocolate has one downside: when it stains, it stains pretty badly.

Chocolate, like many other things, is easiest to remove before it dries. However, we know that dry stains need to be cleaning too, and that is why below, you will find easy methods to help you save your carpet from a stubborn chocolate stain.

Before you begin

To ensure that the cleaning process goes smoothly, please read our useful tips & tricks.

1. If you have to use detergent, please do not clean around children or pets.
2. Air out the room properly, especially if you use detergent. Your carpet also needs to thoroughly dry once you’re done cleaning.
3. Before cleaning, check the solution on a small patch of carpet. If there is no discoloration, you can proceed.
4. Do not scrub your carpet too hard. You don’t want to damage the fibers or push the chocolate further down into the carpet.
5. Do not use any type of heat on the carpet until you’ve cleaned the stain. This could be a fan or a blowdryer to dry it quicker, but also even warm water. Only use cold water.
6. If using rubbing alcohol, we recommend that you dilute it: 1 parts alcohol, 2 parts water.

Easy ways to remove chocolate stains from a carpet

As said above, time is of the essence when it comes to cleaning chocolate out of any fabric.  Dry chocolate, especially on a carpet – which you may not always be able to just pick up – is going to be difficult to clean, but don’t worry. Both fresh and older stains are entirely possible to get rid of.

Read on below to find out how to clean your carpet using things you can find in your home.

Method #1: Using rubbing alcohol

Time: >20 minutes

Required items: a dull knife, rubbing alcohol, clean white cloth

This method is recommended for less problematic stains. If you have no rubbing alcohol, you can use liquid dish soap instead.

1. If the chocolate is soft, you can either try to blot it away with cold water or apply an ice cube to it to chill it a bit. Once it’s cold, scrape it away with a dull knife, working towards the middle of the stain.
2. Apply rubbing alcohol to a clean white cloth. 
3. Blot the stain gently. Don’t rub too hard. 
4. Change the cloth as needed. You want the entire stain to transfer to the cloth.
5. If this doesn’t help, alternate scraping and blotting. Once you’ve repeated the steps a few times, move on to the next method.

Method #2: Using ammonia

Time: >30 minutes

Required items: ammonia, lukewarm water, clean white cloth, a dull knife, cleaning gloves.

This method helps with tougher stains, but it should not be used on wool carpets. Ammonia will damage them.

1. Begin by blotting away the chocolate with a cloth dipped in cold water. If the chocolate is dry, simply scrape it away with a dull knife.
2. Put on cleaning gloves and open up the window.
3. Mix two tablespoons of ammonia with 1 cup of lukewarm water. Make sure the water is not too warm.
4. Soak a clean white towel or cloth in the mixture.
5. Perform a safety test on a hidden patch of carpet.
6. Blot the stain repeatedly. Hold down the cloth for a minute. The ammonia should break up the chocolate. Go back to blotting.
7. Change the towel as needed.
8. You may have to repeat the above steps several times.

Method #3: Using hydrogen peroxide & ammonia

Time: >1 hour

Required items: ammonia, 3% hydrogen peroxide, water, clean white cloth, a dull knife, cleaning gloves, spray bottle, a sponge, a vacuum cleaner

This is a method that will get rid of even stubborn stains. 

Warning: Do not use ammonia on wool carpets, and do not use hydrogen peroxide on dark carpets without first performing a safety test.

1. Blot away all the chocolate using a towel soaked in cold water. Alternatively, scrape dried chocolate away with a butter knife.
2. Put on your cleaning gloves and keep the window open throughout the entire process.
3. Mix ½ cup of 3% hydrogen peroxide with 1 teaspoon of ammonia. 
4. Spray the mixture onto the stain. You can use a sponge if you prefer to.
5. The stain should be saturated, but not enough for the solution to soak through to the pad.
6. Leave it to sit for 20 minutes.
7. Rinse with cold water or club soda by sponging thoroughly.
8. Blot up all the possible moisture with a clean cloth or paper towels.
9. Leave the area to completely air dry.
10. Vacuum the dried carpet to raise the fibers.

Method #4: Using borax

Time: >1 hour

Required items: borax, cold water, a toothbrush, a clean cloth, a vacuum cleaner, cleaning gloves

This method is successful for most stains and should be safe for your carpet. Remember to still perform a safety test.

1. Scrape away dried chocolate, or blot away soft chocolate with a cloth dipped in cold water. You can also apply an ice cube to the carpet prior to scraping.
2. Put on your cleaning gloves and open up the window.
3. Make a paste of borax and water. It should be thick, similar to toothpaste.
4. Apply the mixture generously using a toothbrush. 
5. Work it gently into the fibers.
6. Leave it to completely air dry.
7. Vacuum up all of the paste. 
8. If anything remains, blot it away with a cloth soaked in cold water, then leave it to air dry again.

What’s next?

The above methods will be successful when dealing with most stains. Some stains, especially those that are long dry or have been subjected to heat, may be difficult to remove.

In those cases, we recommend trying out different methods until you find one that works for your carpet. Be gentle and always test every solution before you apply it to the stain.

An alternative to our methods will be a commercial carpet cleaner or a stain remover. If you followed our steps and the stain remains, look for a stain remover that will be suitable for your carpet and carefully follow the instructions. 

As a last resort, please consult a dry cleaning or a professional carpet cleaner. Carpets often have tender fibers and are easily damaged.

Preventing chocolate stains is very difficult, as they cannot be predicted. Instead of prevention, try to act as fast as possible. The sooner you begin, the more likely you are to fully remove chocolate from your carpet.